JAGS DO ENOUGH TO TOP SLUMPING JETS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
Trevor Lawrence was in a celebratory mood, decked out in an ugly Christmas sweater while acknowledging it wasn’t exactly the prettiest performance he and his Jacksonville Jaguars have had during their playoff surge.
It was plenty good enough, though. The Jags’ 19-3 victory over an embarrassed Zach Wilson and the slumping New York Jets on a rainy, windy Thursday night has them in control of their postseason destiny.
“It’s just a big win,” Lawrence said. “It shows this team is growing. We don’t have to have 40 points to win. We don’t have to have all these yards. Whatever it takes to win, we’re able to do.
To be able to adjust was really good for us.”
Lawrence finished 20 of 31 for 229 yards and ran for 51 yards, including a leaping touchdown, on seven carries for the Jaguars (7-8), who moved within one-half game of skidding Tennessee in the AFC South. Jacksonville would win the division title with victories in its final two games — including the season finale against the Titans.
“We understand the task in front of us,” Lawrence said. “Every game is a must win for us. That’s how we’re treating it. We understand it and we love it.”
The second matchup between last year’s first two draft picks — Lawrence at
No. 1 and Wilson No. 2 — wasn’t even close.
While Lawrence sliced through the Jets’ normally strong defense, Wilson
couldn’t get anything going and was booed frequently — all the way to the bench. Chris Streveler, elevated from the practice squad before the game, replaced Wilson late in the third quarter.
Wilson went 9 of 18 for 92 yards with an interception and a dismal 41.9 rating for the Jets (7-8), whose playoff hopes took a devastating hit with their fourth straight loss. That’s the worst skid under second-year coach Robert Saleh.
And it came in their regular-season home finale — in front a national audience on Amazon Prime Video.
“It’s not about playoffs right now,” Saleh said. “It’s about about getting off this mat and trying to freakin’ find a way to put together a football game.”
Wilson, who returned from a three-game benching last Sunday in place of an injured Mike White, couldn’t make any plays and his offensive line gave him little protection.
“I just felt like I didn’t have any rhythm out there,” Wilson said.
After Riley Patterson added his third field goal, a 41yarder midway through the third quarter to make it 16-3, Wilson was booed again when he jogged onto the field with the offense. But then, the Jets put Streveler in at quarterback on their next possession — and the fans went wild. And New York’s offense finally found a short-lived spark.
But the drive stalled when Streveler’s throw to Garrett Wilson sailed wide of the receiver, turning the ball over on downs.